Fort Bliss Main Post Historic District
Fort Bliss, El Paso, TXThe Fort Bliss Historic District is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places for Military history a well as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development, and as part of a significant and distinguishable entity, the Fort Bliss Main Post Historic District.
The areas of significance are encompassed under seven thematic groups: Initial Construction Period 1891-1899, Interim Period 1900- 1912, First Expansion Period 1913-1917, 7th Cavalry Construction Period 1919, Second Expansion Period 1919-1926, Depression Era 1927-1939, and Post World War II Period 1946-1950. Historically, these properties are associated with events that have made a contribution to distinguishable parts of Army history. Early events include the consolidation of smaller posts into larger more permanent posts at the close of the Indian Wars, a permanent Army presence on the U.S.-Mexican border, the massing of a large cavalry force along the U.S.-Mexican border to prevent arms smuggling and to discourage and/or respond to any hostile acts against the United States, and the early efforts of the War Department to create a cavalry division along the U.S.-Mexican border. Later, there were Army efforts to more efficiently manage its supply operations and to make Fort Bliss the nation's premier Mexican border post. Additionally, construction occurred that was part of the nationwide Army housing program that spanned the Depression years and expedited government-sponsored Depression relief programs. Lastly, the installation was transformed from a cavalry post into the Army's major air defense center following World War II. Architecturally, the buildings comprising the Fort Bliss Main Post Historic District reflect many styles, including Queen Anne, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, Prairie, Craftsman, Italian Renaissance Revival, Mission, Pueblo Revival, and Spanish Eclectic. The historic period when each style was used at Fort Bliss reflects wider national trends in architectural styles. The district has significance under Community Planning and Development as an example of the development of an Army border post. The evolving design of the installation reflects Army principles of efficiency, organization, and rank as well as nationwide planning principles such as those of the City Beautiful movement.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.